TAMPA, FL (Interstat) — The Miami Marlins erupted for eight runs in the 10th inning Saturday afternoon to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-5 at George Steinbrenner Field, snapping a two-game losing streak in a game that turned on a series of clutch hits and defensive miscues.

The Marlins, who entered the game with a 20-25 record, improved to 21-25. The Rays, who had won four of their previous five games, dropped to 29-15. The game drew 19,673 fans and lasted 3 hours, 8 minutes.

Miami’s offense, which had managed only two runs through the first nine innings, exploded in the extra frame against Rays reliever Hunter Bigge. The rally began when Esteury Ruiz, who had entered as a pinch runner in the top of the 10th, advanced to third on a single by Joe Mack. Xavier Edwards walked to load the bases, and Liam Hicks followed with a sharp single to right field, driving in Ruiz and Mack to give Miami a 4-2 lead.

Otto Lopez then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Edwards and moving Hicks to second. Kyle Stowers singled to left, putting runners at the corners, and Connor Norby singled to left, scoring Hicks and sending Stowers to second. After Jakob Marsee walked to load the bases, Javier Sanoja delivered the decisive blow — a double to left field that cleared the bases, scoring Stowers, Norby and Marsee to make it 9-2. Ruiz then singled to left, driving in Sanoja, but was thrown out trying to advance to second.

The eighth-run inning was the largest single-inning output of the season for Miami, which had scored only one run through the first eight innings and had been held to two runs or fewer in four of its previous five games. Bigge, who took the loss, was charged with eight runs on seven hits in one inning of work.

Miami’s pitching staff, led by starter Sandy Alcantara, kept the Rays at bay for most of the night. Alcantara threw six scoreless innings, allowing seven hits and striking out six. He left with the game tied 0-0 after the top of the sixth. Pete Fairbanks, who earned the win, pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two, and then worked the 10th as well.

The Rays mounted a comeback in the bottom of the 10th against Miami reliever Lake Bachar. Taylor Walls and Chandler Simpson each scored on a double by Junior Caminero, and Jonathan Aranda followed with a double to plate Caminero, cutting the deficit to 10-5. But Bachar retired Yandy Díaz on a groundout, got Richie Palacios to line out, and after a walk to Cedric Mullins, Jonny DeLuca flied out to center to end the game.

The game was a pitcher’s duel through six innings. Miami starter Sandy Alcantara and Rays starter Nick Martinez traded zeros. Martinez allowed only two hits over five innings, striking out five and walking one. Alcantara was equally sharp, but the Rays broke through in the third inning against him on an error. Taylor Walls reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by second baseman Xavier Edwards. Chandler Simpson then singled to left to drive in Walls, giving Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.

Miami tied it in the seventh when Heriberto Hernández, batting as a pinch hitter, homered to left-center field off Rays reliever Mason Montgomery. It was Hernández’s first home run of the season.

The Marlins took the lead in the ninth. With two outs, Jakob Marsee singled, and Sanoja doubled to center to bring him home, making it 2-1. But the Rays answered in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and a runner on third, Nick Fortes singled to left, scoring Cedric Mullins to tie the game 2-2 and force extra innings.

Miami’s offense was led by Sanoja, who went 2-for-5 with four RBIs and two doubles. Hicks was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Marsee went 3-for-4 with a triple and a walk, scoring twice. For the Rays, Caminero drove in three runs with two doubles, and Aranda added two RBIs.

The Marlins finished with 15 hits, while the Rays had 10.

Miami improved to 6-5 in its last 11 games and will face the Rays again Sunday in the series finale. The Rays, who had won the opener of this series 7-2 on Friday, now hold a 29-15 record and remain atop the American League East.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tampa Bay 7, Miami 3. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Rays a 60.50 percent probability to win. Tampa Bay had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 15 went under the over/under line of 7.5.